Wimbledon Introduces Video Replay Technology in 2025.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing replay technology.
Replay systems will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the ability to contest specific calls made by the chair umpire, following the practice already in place at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there is no limit on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
An illustrative case occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a video and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
